Hood latch



H. KRAUSE HOOD LATCH July '1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Hereri Krazzse Parker". (5c Ca/"Zer flifar/zeys July 1, 1958 H. KRAUSE HOOD LATCH Filed July 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w: :1 X42 34 I 30 5 a 3b 3/ L l ii 3 v WE? 1F: /6 15 /0 M mmvrozz. Hlbi'i [frame BY Parker & Gaffer fliforize ys United States Patent F mg and Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 21, 1955, Serial No. 523,437

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-11) This invention relates to latches and has particular relation to a latch usable with automobile hoods and closures therefor.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a hood latch structure having an integral main latch and operating member therefor.

Another purpose is to provide a main latch having a camming abutment portion positioned to engage and operate a safety latch upon movement of the main latch toward non-latching position.

Another purpose is to provide a latch plate having 21 depending skirt about the periphery thereof and a main latch having a latching portion, a camming portion, a pivot point, and a guide portion within the area bounded by said skirt, the camming portion being positioned to engage a safety latch on said plate also within the area bounded by said skirt.

Another purpose is to provide, in a hood latch structure, a main latch member having an integral, manually operable portion and a safety latch positioned for actuation by said main latch.

Another purpose is to provide a hood latch structure employing a latch plate having a flat surface to which a latch lever is pivoted and depending skirt about the periphery of the flat surface, the skirt having upper portions inwardly offset and a flat surface joining said inwardly offset skirt portions with corresponding lower skirt portions to provide a guiding surface along which portions of a main latch may ride in operation, the inwardly off-set skirt portions being slotted to form a guide and stop means for said main latch.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

1 illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view on a reduced scale with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the numeral 1 generally indicates a latch plate having an upper fiat surface 2. A skirt 3 depends from the surface 2 about the entire periphery thereof, the skirt being of limited depth and being, for example, on the order of approximately of the Width or diameter of the surface 2. The numeral 4 indicates openings in the surface 2 through which, as is well known, fastening means may extend to secure the plate 1 to the hood of an automobile, or to the closure thereof.

It will be further understood, as is well known in the art, that a keeper or plunger structure 5 is normally employed with the hood latch shown in the drawing herein. Such keeper or plunger is normally rod-like and may have an enlarged portion 5a adjacent its outer end. The plate surface 2 is apertured, for example, as at 6 to permit the passage of such enlarged portion through the plate ,surface 2.

Patented July 1, 1958 ice Pivoted to the plate surface 2, and, as the parts are shown in the drawings, to the under surface thereof, as at 10, is a main latch member generally at 11. The main latch has a latching portion 12 positioned at one side of the pivot 10. The latching portion 12 has an inner, somewhat arcuate chamfered edge 13, the purpose of which will appear herein below. A yielding member, such as the spring 15, may have one of its ends connected to an ear 16 on the main latch 11 at a point on the same side of the pivot 10 as the latching portion 12, and the spring 15 may have its opposite end connected to the skirt 3 on the opposite side of the aperture 6 from the ear 16. The spring 15, as is believed clear in the drawing, is effective to urge the latching portion 12 toward the axis of aperture 6 and thus toward latching position. As best seen in Figure 1, the latching portion 12 is thus normally positioned in alignment with a portion of the aperture 6. An end edge 61) of a depending skirt 6a serves as an inner stop means to limit the excursion of the main latch 11 toward latching position, the skirt 6a depending about a portion of the periphery of the aperture 6.

The skirt 3 has an inwardly off-set upper portion 3a, the off-set portion 3a being joined with the remaining lower portion of the skirt 3, aligned therewith, by a flat surface 2a which lies in a plane paralleling that occupied by the surface 2. The inwardly ofi-set upper skirt portion 3a may have an area thereof removed or, in other words, may have a slot formed therein as indicated generally at 3b.

Extending through the slot 3b is a manually operable main latch actuating element 20. It will be observed that the element 20 extends from the pivot 10 on the opposite side thereof from the latching portion 12 and generally paralleling the spring 15 which is also on the opposite side of the pivot 10 from the element 20. The operating portion 29 may be downwardly bent as at 21 and again outwardly bent as at 22 and may have its outer edge twisted as at 23 to form a conveniently accessible, manually grippable handle portion 24. It will be observed that a substantial portion of the element 20 extends from the pivot 10 through slot 3b and over the surface 2a, the bend 21 being positioned outwardly beyond the surface 2a. Thus the surface 20: may serve as a support and guide for the main latch actuating member 20, a portion thereof riding along the surface 2a when the latch is operated.

In a manner similar to that described above, the skirt 3 has a second inwardly off-set upper portion 30 which is joined with the remaining aligned lower skirt portion by the horizontal surface 2b which lies in the same plane as that occupied by the surface 2a. A slot or opening 3d may be formed in the inwardly off-set skirt portion 30 and the main latch lever 11 may have an end portion 31) extending laterally through the slot 3d. The latch end portion 30 which, as best seen in Figure l, is beyond the pivot 14 from the handle portion 20 and may carry a downward projection as at 31 to provide a ridge ridable along the surface 2b.

The main latch member 11 has a camming abutment 35 which may constitute an outward projection positioned between the pivot 16 and the latch end portion 30 and generally in alignment with the latching portion 12. As best seen in Figure 2, the camming portion 35 may extend from the edge of the latch 11 opposite the latching portion 12 and may have a generally arcuate outer camming edge surface 36.

Referring now to Figure 2, a bracket 40 may be secured to the surface of the plate 1 generally in alignment with the aperture 6, latching portion 12 and camming abutment 35. Pivotally mounted on the bracket 40, as at 41, is a safety latch member 42. The latch member :de'partin'g from the spirit of my invention.

'wishv my'description and drawings to be taken as in a, broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as II'ha's an 'ear 43 ono'ne yielding member such as the spring 44 may be connected ,to the earr43 as at;45 and to the skirt 3.as at @6. The Tsa'fetyjlatch 42 extends from the pivot .41 through an ;a'perturel48 inthesurface'2 of the plate 1. j Ihe aperlture is'jand safety latch .42 as best seen in'Figure 1,

,"areQthus also-inalignment with the aperture 6, latching portion 12 and camming abutment 3 5.

As best seenin Figure 2, the ,Safety latch 42jhas a lhoiok portion 50 'at the outer end thereof, the purpose.

of which is well known. The 'aperture 48, through which the safety latch 42 passes, is of sufiicient linear side of the pivot 41 and a' V and away from' latching position.

extension to permit movement of the latch .42 aboutthe Ifpivotf41', the'opposite ends"51,j5 2 of the slot oraperture '48, serving to limit such movement of the safety latch 42. 'As' best seen also in Figure 2 the camming abutment 36 is spaced a predetermined distance from .the edge 52 of the slot 48, when the main latch 11 is in latching position "toward which it is urged by the spring'15. Thus the camming abutment 35 and its convex edge 36 are spaced from the innermost or forward edge 42a of the safety latch 42 when the safety latch 42 is in its latched position toward which it is urged by the spring 44, the edge 52 of the slot 48 serving to provide a stop means and thus to determine the excursion of the gsafety latch 42 toward latching position. I

Whereas I have described and claimed a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made 'in siz'e,;shape, number and disposition of parts without I therefore The safety'latch hook portion 5% is directed in a plane inclined toward the plate 1. The approach of thelautomobile hood'and closure towardeach other causes an element to ride along the inclined edge 59a and 'thus urges the safety latch 42 toward nonlatching position. 'When this element has passed the hook 50, the safety latch 42 is returned rapidly to the latching position be-. hind such element and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 by the action of the spring 44. Thus the hook 50 is in position to engage such element upon unintended separa tion of the closure from the hood.

In'order to. release the latching structure of my invention, the operator merely'grips the handle portion 24 and moves it about the pivot'lii'in a clockwise direction, as the parts are shown in Figure 1. Such movement of the main latch 11 about the pivot 19 and against the action of the spring moves the latching portion 12 away from the axis. of the aperture 6 and 'thus from engagement with a keeper or plunger enlargement. Such movement also brings the camming edge 3 6into engagement with the safety latch edge 4211. Continued clockwise movement (as the parts are shown in Figure 1) causes the cam edge 36 to ride along the edge 42a to move the'safety latch 42 toward nonlatching position.

safety latch 42 toward the slot edge 51 causes a limited "longitudinal portion of the latch edge 42a to come into engagement withthe horizontally moving camming edge The surface .2 may have an arcuate downwardly directed ridge or off-set portion 60 along which an intermediate portion of the main latch 11 may ride during such movement.

I claim:

1. In a latch for automobiles and the'like having a hood member and a closure member therefor, a plunger mounted on one of said members, a latch plate mounted on the other of said members, .said latch plate having an aperture formed to permit the passage ithere'through of said plunger when said closure member is moved toward said hood member, a main latch pivotally mounted on said plate at a point adjacent said aperture, said main latch having a latching portion extending into said aperture for engagement with said plunger, yielding means biasing said latch toward latching position, a safety latch pivotally mounted on said plate, said main latch having a camming'abutment adjacent said main latch pivot and positioned to engage said safety latch when said main latch is moved toward non-latching position, said'abutrnent, when said main latch and said safety latch are in latching position, being spacedfrom said safety latch to permit sai-d main latch to move in response to engagement by said plunger when said plunger passes through said aperture without engaging said safety latch, said plate aperture, main latch latching portion, camming abutment and safetylatch being all in alignment one with the-other at one side of said main latch V pivot said main latch having a manually operable handle While the camming abutment.35 rides in a horizontal" plane paralleling theplate surface 2, movement of the portion integral therewith and beyond said main latch pivot from said latching portion and said camming abutment, said handle portion extending beyond said latch plate.

2. In a hood latch, a mainlplate, 'a plunger-receiving aperture in said main plate, a main latch pivotally mounted on said plate for movement in a plane paralleling said plate, said platehaving a depending peripheral skirt there on, f said main latch being pivoted to said main plate formovement within the area bounded by said skirt, said skirt having an upper off-set portion inwardly spaced from the aligned lower portion of said skirt, said oif-set and aligned portions being joined by a generally flat surface lying in a plane paralleling that occupied by said plate, a slot in said inwardly 'off-setskirt portion,

said main latch having a handle portion extending through said slot and overlying'said fiat surface whereby said slot and flat surface constitute guiding and supporting means for said main latch during its excursion toward and away from latching position, a second upper ofi-Set skirt portion inwardly spaced on saidplate and positioned on.

' second flat surface during said main latch excursion.

3. In. a hood latch, a main plate, a keeper receiving aperture generally centrally positioned in said main plate, a main latch member pivotally mounted on said plate at a point intermediate the ends of said main latch memher for movement in a plane paralleling said plate, said main latch having a latching portion positioned for movement intoalignment with a portion of said aperture for latching engagement with a keeper, yielding means connected to said plate and said main latch member and positioned to urge said latching portion toward said aligned position, saidmain latch member having a first end portion extending. beyond said latching portion from said main latch'me'mber pivot point and a second end portion extending beyond said pivot point from said latching portion, said main plate having a pair of spaced openings positioned on opposite sides of said aperture, each of said main latch member end portions extending through one of said last named openings, a safety latch pivotally mounted on said plate for movement toward and away from latching position in a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of said main latch member, a camming abutment formed integrally with and extending outwardly from an edge of said main latch member in a direction opposite from and in alignment with said latching portion, said abutment being movable into contact with said safety latch in response to movement of said main latch member toward non-latching position, said keeper receiving aperture, main latch latching portion, camming abutment and safety latch being positioned substantially in alignment one with the other, said main plate having portions surrounding each of said spaced openings and effective to support and guide said main latch member end portions.

4. In a hood latch, a main plate, a safety latch pivotally mounted on one surface of said plate, said plate having a slot, said safety latch extending through said slot and having a hook portion positioned on the opposite side of said plate, yielding means connected with said safety latch and said plate and positioned to urge said safety latch toward latching position and against one edge of said slot, a main latch pivotally mounted on said plate for movement in a plane paralleling said plate, said main latch having an integral handle segment at one end thereof, said main latch having a latching portion and a camming abutment, said carnming abutment being positioned to engage said safety latch, said camming abutment being spaced from said safety latch, when said main latch is in latching position, to permit movement of said main latch across said space between said camming abutment and said safety latch and into its non-latching position prior to contact between said camming abutment and said safety latch, said camming abutment having a convex camming surface of sufficient linear extension to permit continued engagement between said abutment and said safety latch during continued movement of said main latch beyond its said non-latching position, said continued engagement being efiective to move said safety latch to its non-latching position in response to continued movement of said main latch beyond its non-latching position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,193,132 Hynes Mar. 12, 1940 2,253,660 Tell Aug. 26, 1941 2,256,465 Brubaker a- Sept. 23, 1941 2,492,683 Gland-Mantle Dec. 27, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,717 'France Feb. 2, 1928 693,341 Great Britain June 24, 1953 

